Fruit



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR SIZING FRUIT.

No. 458,963. Patented Sept. 1, 1891.

WITNESSES:

BY 0AM 6.VW

ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. ADAMS. MACHINE FOR SIZINGFRUIT.

Patented Sept. 1, 1891.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY.

1 a scam runs CO-,PKO1'D-LIYKO.,WASNINGTON n c .cal, as shown at cl.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ADAMS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE A. BOOTH PACKINGCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR SIZING FRUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,963, datedSeptember 1, 1891.

Application filed May 1, 1891. Serial No. 391,247. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residingat Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Machines for Sizing Fruit, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved machine for cutting fruit down toa uniform size to facilitate canning the same, and is particularlydesigned for thus sizing pine-apples.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simpleconstruction which will operate automatically and effectively toaccomplish the desired result.

WVith this end in View the invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, which will be described andclaimed hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1represents a top view of the machine; Fig. 2, a side elevation, theframe being shown partly in section; Fig. 3, an end View, the upper partof the machine being shown in section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, anenlarged longitudinal section through the center of the reciprocatingcarriage; Fig. 5, an enlarged section through one of the rotarycylindrical cutters, also showing the discharge-chute; and Fig.6,details of the cutterhead.

The letter A designates a suitable frame which supports the machine. Ateach end of this frame is mounted a standard B, which supports a rotarycutter. This cutter comprises a cylindrical sleeve O, mounted betweenthe uprights of the standard in bearings a therein,and a cylindricalcutter-head D, having flanges I), through which it is fixedly secured bybolts 0 to the end of the sleeve, the latter having correspondingflanges b. The bore of this cutter-head is coincident with that of thesleeve O, and the latter opens into a dischargechute E. The head I) isbeveled ofi at its outer end to present a circular cutting-edge e and atits inner end is made coni- At the base of this conical part is anoutwardextending annular shoulder or flange f, which in the presentinstance is a disk or ring encircling the said 1 conical part andsecured by the bolts 0, which is constructed and operated alike.

attach the head to the sleeve 0. On the sleeve between the uprights ofthe standard B a pair of shoulders g is turned, and the sleeve betweenthese shoulders is made heavier and constitutes a pulley for driving thecutter. Rotary motion is imparted to this pulley by a belt h from thedrive-shaft F, which is at the base of the frame. There are two of thesecutters, one at each end of the frame, and each Between them is areciprocating carriage G, which travels on guide-rods i at oppositesides ofthe frame, which rods are supported by posts or pillars j andextend from one cutter to the other. The carriage G has suitableslide-heads It, which embrace the said guide-rods. Spindles II projectfrom the opposite sides of the carriage toward the cutter-heads. Thesespindles are detachable, each being secured to the carriage by a screwZ, extending through the side of the carriage from the inside and intothe boss of the spindle, as shown in Fig. at. Each spindle has ashoulder or flange m at its inner part, and this flange may be providedwith projecting spurs or blades n.

The carriage is reciprocated by the following-described means: Acrossthe carriage extends a rigid rod or shaft 0, on which are two collars p.The upper end (1 of a vibrating arm or lover I embraces this shaftbetween the collars on the same and has a slot 0', through which saidshaft extends, the latter having mounted on it a friction-roller r tobear against the sides of the slot. The vibrating arm I is pivoted atthe base of the frame, having aforked lower end I, mounted on arock-shaft J. To this arm is connected a rod K, which is attached toaneccentric L, mounted on a shaft M, which carries a large gear-wheel N,meshing with a smaller wheel N on a shaft 0, driven by a suitable pulleyO on its end. It will be seen that the arm I is actuated and thecarriage thereby reciprocated through the eccentric L and rod K. Theconnection of the eccentric-rod to the arm I and the throw of theeccentric are so adjusted that the carriage travels from one cutter tothe other, and the shoulders m of the spindles II just enter thecutter-heads at the limit of the movement of the carriage. Theseshoulders are made the same diameter as the bore of the cutter. A chuteP is located beneath the center of the machine and extends below bothcutters. The arm I extends through a slot sin the bottom of the chute.lVhen power is applied to the machine, the cutters are driven at a highrate of speed, while the carriage is reciprocated slowly between thecutters. The spindles H do not revolve.

The operation is as follows: The pine-ap pics are first roughed off'.e., their outside cover is removed and then they are cored by a suitablemachine. A pine-apple in this shape is fitted on one of the spindles Hagainst the shoulder m, the spindle engaging the cored-out center of thepine-apple. Now when the carriage approaches one of the revolvingcutter-heads the pine-apple is carried against the cutting-edge c andpushed into the cutter-head, the latter revolving rapidly and cuttingthe pine-apple down to the size of the inside bore of the cutter-head.The shoulder m, which, as previously explained, enters the cutter-head,carries the pine-apple all the way into said cutter-head and causes itto be cut its entire length and left in the head. WVhile one pine-appleis being thus cut another is fitted on the other spindle, and when thecarriage returns this latter pine-apple is cut to the size of the cutterhead at the opposite end of the machine. \Vhen the spindle shoulder m isprovided with spurs or bladesn, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, these spursenter the pine-apple and prevent it from turning. The tubular shell outfrom the outside of the pine-apple is carried against the conical part(1 of the cutter-head and is broken. It then falls through the frameinto the chute P and is carried off. The annular shoulder f preventsthis matter from being carried behind the cutter-head. Each pine-appleis cut and carried into the cutter-head and left there. One pushes theother through the sleeve 0, and the pine-apples are in this mannerdischarged into the chute E and are carried off thereby, as repsented inFig. 3, where the letter 15 indicates the pine-apples.

The pine-apples may be cut to any size desired by using differentsizedcutterheads. These cutter-heads are detachable by removing the bolts 0.A cutter-head of one size may be used at one end of the machine and oneof a diiierent size at the opposite end, as shown in the drawings, andin this way two grades of pine-apples can be cut at the same time. Afterthe pine-apples have been sized by this machine they are sliced and putup in cans.

It is obvious that one cutter may be used alone instead of two, as hereshown; but the advantages of two and the mechanism employed to operatethem are apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a machine for sizing cored fruit,the combination of a rotary cylindrical cutter and a reciprocatingcarriage having a spindle on which the fruit is carried to the cutter,said spindle having a shoulder to enter the cutter and push the fruitinto the same.

2. In a machine for sizing cored fruit, the combination of a rotarycylindrical cutter and a reciprocating carriage having a spindle onwhich the fruit is carried to the cutter, said spindle having a shoulderto enter the cutter and push the .fruit into the same, and projectionsfrom said shoulder to prevent the fruit from turning.

3. In a machine for sizing fruit, the combination of a rotarycylindrical cutter opening into a discharge-chute and a reciprocatingcarriage to take the fruit to the cutter and carry it through the boreof the same into said discharge-chute.

4. In a machine for sizing fruit, the combination of a rotarycylindrical cutter comprising a sleeve and a cutter-head secureddetachably on the end of said sleeve, the bore of said head coincidingwith that of the sleeve, and a reciprocating carriage to take the fruitto the cutter and carry it through the bore of the same into adischarge-chute.

5. In a machine for sizing fruit, the combination of a rotarycylindrical cutter com prising a sleeve and a cutter-head secureddetachably on the end of said sleeve, the bore of said head coincidingwith that of the sleeve, and a reciprocating carriage having adetachable spindle on which the fruit is carried to the cutter, saidspindle having a shoulder to enter the cutter and push the fruit intothe same and through the sleeve.

6. In a machine for sizing fruit, the combination of a rotarycylindrical cutter having a conical part on its exterior and areciprocating carriage to take the fruit to the cutter and carry it intothe bore of the same and the outside shell cut from it upon said conicalpart, for the purpose described.

7. In a machine for sizing fruit, the combination of a rotarycylindrical cutter having a conical part on its exterior and a shoulder.at the base of the same and a reciprocating carriage to take the fruitto the cutter and carry it into the bore of the same and the outsideshell out from it upon said conical part, for the purpose described.

8. In a machine for sizing fruit, the conibination of two rotarycylindrical cutters located at opposite ends of the machine, a carriagebetween the two cutters, having two spindles projecting toward thecutters, respectively, and adapted to receive the cored fruit, and meansto reciprocate the said carriage between the cutters.

9. In a machine for sizing fruit, the combination of two rotarycylindrical cutters located at opposite ends of the machine and openinginto discharge-chutes, a carriage between the two cutters, having twospindles projecting toward the cutters, respectively, and adapted toreceive the cored fruit, a vibrating arm connected to said carriage, and

lIC

suitable mechanism for actuating the arm and thereby reciprocating thecarriage.

10. In a machine for sizing fruit, the combination of two rotarycylindrical cutters located atopposite ends of the machine and openinginto discharge-chutes, guide-rods extending from one cutter to theother, a carriage mounted to reciprocate on said rods and having twospindles projecting toward the cut- 10 ters, respectively, and adaptedto receive the cored fruit, a vibrating arm connected to said carriage,and suitable mechanism for actuating the arm and thereby reciprocatingthe carriage.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in I 5 the presence of twowitnesses.

' JOHN ADAMS. Witnesses:

F. P. DAvIs, JNo. T. MADDoX.

